The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) is a highly anticipated event that brings together a diverse range of artists, performers, and cultural enthusiasts. This year, the festival will take place from 16 May to 1 June, with the theme “More Than Ever.” The theme reflects the Festival’s commitment to celebrating Singapore’s cultural vitality and boldness, as well as its ambition to position Singapore as a creative city for the arts.
The Festival’s Curation Strands
The festival features six curation strands that guide its programming:
- New Urban Realities
- Classics Reinvented
- History Reimagined
- We, International
- State of the Arts
- PRISM 48
These strands showcase the festival’s commitment to diversity and innovation, with a range of artistic expressions and styles.
The Festival’s Programming
The festival features a diverse range of artistic expressions, including:
- 15 commissioned local works, including two works-in-progress first staged at SIFA 2024
- More than 20 local and international productions
- A range of family-friendly programs, including Little SIFA
- A series of lectures and workshops
These works are presented in a range of venues, including the SIFA Pavilion at Bedok Town Square, which is a transient arts space that showcases multidisciplinary artistic expression.
The SIFA Pavilion
The SIFA Pavilion is a unique feature of the festival, offering a space for public engagement and interaction with the arts. It is charged with multidisciplinary artistic expression, and features a range of works that bring performance and the public together.
“The SIFA Pavilion is a powerful new dimension to the Festival’s relationship with the shared public environment,” said Festival Director Natalie Hennedige. “It adds a new level of depth and meaning to our programming, and provides a space for audiences to engage with the arts in a more intimate and immersive way.”
Little SIFA
Little SIFA is a program designed for children, featuring a range of family-friendly programs and activities. It is part of the festival’s efforts to introduce young audiences to the arts, and to provide them with exposure to and engagement with Singapore’s vibrant arts landscape.
“Little SIFA is an exciting new initiative that will help to foster a love of the arts in children from a young age,” said Sharon Tan, Executive Director of Arts House Limited. “We are committed to making the arts accessible to all, and to providing opportunities for children to engage with the arts in a fun and interactive way.”
International Perspectives
The festival also features a range of international perspectives, with works by artists from around the world. This includes:
- A moving meditation on the relentless passage of time, choreography, music, and storytelling in HOME by Geoff Sobelle
- A performance that blends movement, song, and music rooted in Arab culture and urban sounds in Told By My Mother by Ali Chahrour
- A mockumentary that explores the relationship between non-humans and humans in Vampyr by Manuela Infante
These works showcase the diversity and richness of international artistic expression, and provide a unique perspective on the world.
Homegrown Talents
The festival also features a range of works by local artists, including:
- A interactive work that invites audiences to reflect on the future of work in hello, is this working? by Drama Box
- A visual arts installation that explores sustainability, climate resilience, and what it means to be a liveable island in The Sea and the Neighbourhood by Wang Ruobing
- A puppetry adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm that brings new life to the classic tale
These works showcase the talent and creativity of Singapore’s arts scene, and provide a unique perspective on local and international issues.
PRISM 48
PRISM 48 is a conversation series curated by writer, editor, and producer Hong Xinyi. It explores the multifaceted perspectives shaping Singapore’s evolving cultural identity, and the nation’s place within global artistic circuits.
“PRISM 48 is an exciting new initiative that will provide a platform for thinkers and cultural advocates to explore and reframing cultural narratives through the performing arts and beyond,” said Festival Director Natalie Hennedige. “It is a unique opportunity for audiences to engage with the arts and to explore the complex issues shaping our world.”
About the Festival
The Singapore International Festival of Arts is a highly anticipated event that brings together a diverse range of artists, performers, and cultural enthusiasts. It is a celebration of the local and international performing arts, and a showcase of Singapore’s cultural vitality and boldness. About Arts House Limited and the National Arts Council
